Page 104 of The Price of Forever

“Oh, you’ve already started lessons?” Jessa looked over at Seven.

“More or less,” Seven said with a boyish smile. It was hard not to melt on the spot, looking at him. He’d been trimming his hair less, allowing the top to grow the tiniest bit unruly while the sides remained shaved down. A hint of dark waves emerged, and paired with the dimple that flashed during these boyish smiles, and the broad expanse of muscles that both protected me and sent me flying to the heights of pleasure…

Playing it cool around Seven in front of other people was now the challenge of the century. I had no problem climbing him like a cat up a tree, but I didn’t want everyone to know it, either.

“Jordan’s a good teacher,” Jessa said.

“She is,” Seven agreed, leaning on the back of the couch. “Even when the student doesn’t want to learn.”

“Would that be you?” Mercedes asked with a giggle.

Seven cocked a heartbreaker smile, the type that sent a gush of warmth straight to my panties. I turned away from him; looking at him head-on was dangerous right now. I needed to focus on this girl time. “Mercedes, are you ready? It’s all you, girl.”

Seven retreated to the bedroom while we continued with lessons. Time melted away in a fun, laughter-filled, pole-gripping blur. Before I knew it, Mercedes was damn near the top of the pole, and I heard the knocking of a knife against the cutting board. Seven was starting lunch, which meant my girl date had to end soon so I could get ready for my pick-up shift that night at the club.

Jessa collected our used coffee mugs from the end table as I safely maneuvered Mercedes to the ground. “What’s for lunch, Seven?”

“Turkey sandwiches, fresh veggies, avocado and mayo.” He jerked his chin toward the high-fiber bread nearby. “You want one?”

“Sounds good, but I’m meeting Damian for lunch at the penthouse,” Jessa said.

“What about you, Mercedes?” I tipped my head toward Seven’s food prep in the kitchen. “You want one?”

She smiled shyly, red-faced and still ecstatic from her progress on the pole. “I need to go meet Trace and Willow, but thanks for the offer.”

I realized, then, that I had extended Seven’s offer. Because this apartment felt like my home, too. The thought thudded awkwardly through me as Jessa and Mercedes began picking up their things, slipping on shoes, finding coats.

Wasn’t I supposed to be finding my own place? Moving out of here?

The coziness of this life at Seven’s side, with my brothers and their significant others on the sidelines, was a lot more than I’d counted on. It made it hard to want to leave, now that I’d finally opened up a few inches of room in my heart for them all. I’d been ignoring all the most recent available apartment emails that were coming in from the rental search engine I signed up for.

But I needed to make good on the agreement with Seven: this is an interim solution. Even though my heart ached for it to be more permanent.

I tried to shove the thoughts away, focusing instead on giving big hugs to Jessa and Mercedes and seeing them out the door. Once all the goodbyes were said and loose plans made for another meet-up, Seven had my turkey sandwich plated and waiting for me.

“Lunch,” he said.

That same creeping warmth and tenderness I’d tried to shove away earlier came slinking back. He took a bite of his sandwich, seemingly unaware of how sweet he was. How thoughtful. What a good caretaker and protector and lover.

“Are you crying?”

I wiped away a spilt tear, laughing softly. “I guess so.”

“Everything okay?”

“I was just thinking about how wonderful you are.”

He laughed as he chewed. “Yeah right.”

I slid onto the stool facing the island. We were in our usual positions. I looked him dead in the eye. “I’m serious, Seven. You are wonderful.”

He swallowed his food, pausing before the next bite. “So are you.”

I picked up my sandwich and smiled at him before I took a big, crunchy bite.

My shift at the club started off low-key. I was getting ready in the Gems lounge, picking out my clothes for the shift and chatting with Roxie and Clara our House Mom about which hair style I should go with. We decided on soft waves, so Clara helped me curl my hair while I finished my makeup. Roxie went out to perform as I put the finishing touches on the night’s style.

Just when my lips were the perfect shade of red to match my stretchy red boy shorts and bikini combo, Joss strode into the Gems lounge, beelining for me.

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